Uploaded on 2014-11-29 by rendodge

**TRANSIT:** Oakland is a major transportation hub for the San Francisco Bay Area. Commuters from the east bay suburbs pass through Oakland on their way to San Francisco. About 250,000 vehicles pass over the Bay Bridge daily. BART (a commuter rail) carries up to 500,000 people through the city each day. Oakland is also home the US's 5th largest port, so there is a constant flux of material goods traveling in and out of the city on freight and rail lines. Many of these people, vehicles and goods can be considered very short term stocks, as they are only in the city of Oakland for a brief time during their travel. ![Macarthur Maze][1] **DIVERSITY** Oakland is known as one of the most diverse cities in the US. In 2010 the population was approx. 27% African-American, 26% White, 27% Hispanic and 17% Asian. The city was predominatly white (96%) until the 1940s when thousands of african american workers migrated to the area to work in the docks and shipyards. The past decade has seen a reduction in the numbers of African-American residents as many of those residents relocate to the suburbs and Hispanic/Latino people migrate to the area, and more white people move into the urban center. The Ethnic makeup of the city is in constant flux. For example; The Uptown and Downtown areas which have been predominately african-american neighborhoods for the last half of the 20th century are increasingly being occupied by hip young white and asian residents. ![Racial Makeup of Oakland][2] **GENTRIFICATION** The economic makeup of certain areas of the city is changing. Certain areas: West Oakland, Downtown and Uptown in particular are areas where there is an active strategy in place by the city to attract residents with higher incomes. This strategy is generally carried out through land use policy that encourages construction of high-cost condos and apartments. The new higher cost dwellings create an increase in the cost of living and cause lower-income residents to move to cheaper neighborhoods or out of the city entirely. We can see an increase in both the density and cost of apartments/lofts in certain areas of the city. While other areas see a less rapid increase density or in rent prices. ![Gentrification Map][3] **FUTURE** The trends in stocks and flows as I have described them are likely to continue. More people, goods and vehicles will pass through the city. Oakland will remain diverse, but the specific racial makeup of the city will constantly change, gentrification will continue and the stock of higher cost dwellings will increase. I would like to see the environmental impact of the transportation mitigated: we don't need more giant freeways, more loud vehicles and their emissions, more "short term residents" who don't even get out of their cars to enjoy the city. While I enjoy the diversity of the city, I would like to see groups less segregated by neighborhood and income levels. Gentrification plays a key role in creating a beneficial distribution of residents. The policies should be directed at attracting people who will love their city and make a contribution. Also on generating housing for lower income residents to live alongside higher income residents, so these groups can share and get along. [1]: https://edxuploads.s3.amazonaws.com/14172958443755276.jpg [2]: https://edxuploads.s3.amazonaws.com/1417295898331069.jpg [3]: https://edxuploads.s3.amazonaws.com/1417296852122607.jpg